Angling means for disk harrows



June 3, 1952 c. H. YOUNGBERG 2,598,959

ANGLING MEANS FOR nzsx HARROWS Filed Oct. 8, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l ,1(\l A INVENTOR.

. CHARLES H.YOUNGBERG 7 BY June 3, 1952 Filed Oct. 8, 1945 C. H.YOUNGBERG ANGLING MEANS FOR DISK HARROWS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June3, 1952 AN GLING llIEAN S FOR DISK HARROWS Charles H. Youngberg, Moline,111., assignor to Deere & Company, Moline, 111., a corporation ofIllinois Application October 8, 1945, Serial No. 620,951

12 Claims. 1

The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements andmore particularly to disk harrows.

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provisionof means for straightening and angling the disk gang or gangs of theharrow, either manually, or by means of a detachable-power operatedmechanism. More particularly, it is a feature of this inventiontoprovide a detachable power operated mechanism which, when attached tothe harrow and connected to swing the gang or gangs between theirstraightened and angled positions, does not impose undue stresses on anyof the disk harrow parts, particularly the drawbar or hitch constructionthereof.

More specifically, it is an important feature of this invention toprovide a power angling attachment for disk harrows and the like inwhich a rigid supporting beam is provided to take the principal part ofthe stresses involved in angling and straightening the disk gang,thereby relieving the disk harrow parts of any abnormal loads.

A further feature of this invention is the provision of a new andimproved latch means especially constructed to accommodate the manualcontrol of the harrow when the power unit is detached and to accommodatewith ample clearance the parts of the power unit when the latter isattached to the harrow to angle the gang or gangs thereof by power.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will beapparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of thefollowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings 'in which two forms of the present invention havebeen shown by way of illustration.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the drawbar construction of a disk harrow andmy improved power control attachment mounted in place thereon.

Figure 2 is a view taken generally along the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view taken along the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side view of the improved drawbar latch unit.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing I a modified form of thepresent invention.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly Figure 1,.the drawbar orhitch construction of the disk harrow is indicated in its entirety bythe reference numeral 1 and comprises a rear member 2, a forward member3, which is adapted to receive draft as from a propelling tractor (notshown) connected by a hitch plate 4 to the front end of the drawbarmember 3, and a slide 5 movably mounted on the forward drawbar member 3.By virtue of this construction, the propelling force exerted by thetractor in operation is transmitted from the member 4 to the harrow. Thedisk harrow, of which the drawbar construction I is a part, is ofconventional construction and hence has not been illustrated. It will beunderstood, however, that the disk harrow includes one or more diskgangs swingable in a generally horizontal plane, with one end portion ofeach disk gang connected with one of the drawbar members. and the otherend portion of each gang connected with the drawbar slide member 5.Specifically, in one form of the invention, the disk harrow comprisestwo disk gangs, the inner ends of which are connected with the rearportion of the rear drawbar member 2 while the outer end portions of thetwo disk gangs are connected through draft rods 6 with the slide member5, as by bolts 8. The slide member 5 comprises upper and lower plates [0and II, which are formed with upper and lower apertured ears receivingthe pivot bolts 8. The upper and lower plates l0 and II are connectedtogether by side plates I4 welded or otherwise secured thereto. The reardrawbar member 2 preferably comprises a pair of angles [8 suitablyconnected together at their forward ends by cross plates l9 and 20between which the rear end of the forward drawbar member 3 extends. Thelatter member preferably is in the form of a channel having a number ofslots or notches 24 therein, and the rear end of the channel member 3has bolted thereto upper and lower plates 25 and 26 which limit theforward movement of the drawbar member 3 relative to the rear drawbarmember 2. The rearward end plate I9 on the rear drawbar member 2 servesas a stop cooperating with the plate 25 to limit the extended positionof the drawbar members 2 and 3, as aforesaid.

The slide member 5 and the forward end of the rear drawbar member 2carry latch units 30 and 3|. These latch units are preferably identical,and hence a description of the forward latch unit 30 will suflice.Secured to the plate 10 is an inverted U-shaped part 36 which serves asa bracket carried by the plate ID. The

bracket 36 is apertured, as at 38, to receive a 3 which the forward endof a latch lever 4| is connected. The plate I9 and the upper part of thebracket 36 are apertured, as at 43 and 44, respectively, and receive avertically reciprocable latching plunger 45, the lower end of which isadapted to be projected below the opening 43 and into one of the notches24 of the channel drawbar member 3. Arrelat'rvelyilarge opening'4-T isformed in the latcheplunger 45, and through this opening the lever 4|extends. The opening 41 is appreciably larger than the cooperatingportion of the trip lever 4| so that the latter has a certain amount oflost motion therein,'the' purpose of i which will be explained later.The-outer endof the trip lever 4| is apertured', ;as at 49,1to-receive'.

. .lrelatively low down-position-withrespect. to the .lldrawbar proper,whereby: the triplever 4| will .notxinterfere with; any of the: adjacentparts-1 oi,

Qthepower angling controllattachment .when itis installed onthe harrow.I .Bi'efer'ably lalthough a i notJnecessafisily when. the vpower.control :attachment--is installed the cables .50 are .removed.

l; -Bbthof -thelatch unit'stfl. and I3 I. are constructed. 135

.as .describedlabove, and lwheni the power controllLattachmentto.bedescribed below detail. is .re- ,l..moved from.theharrom. the two cables.- 50 Cot the la'tc'hingiuhit's 30 andT3| .arelextendedforwardly to the. .operators'lstation .o'nsth'etractor and thus:andfprovidedwith aic'ylinder" retaining detent 61. fThe cylinder, justi mentioned; 'forms. a part :"of ahydraulicram' unit'indicatedf in" its"entirety l by the"reference'"numeral"10' and; 'in gen'eral, comprisesafcylimier "H" and a piston connected wtothfinner'.end'of 1 apistontrod'1 2*that "extends I 'nutwardlyiofthe cylinder "1 f" "The latter isprovidecrwith apinf'lfl-that isc'arried; by a pairof ap ertnr'ed' ears'lkand the pin is adapted to-seat 'firrthe'notch' 66L "Thehydraulicunitlll'is 'of the --'d6uble"a'cting type andtwo hose -'-line's6 and-"I i -=--=1aa*rram the cylinder to a 'contrOl vaIve andhydraulic-=unit (not shown) 'mounted on the f 'tractor.' '-Nornial1y;-the- Hydraulic unit 7 9' also orms anomiially perm'anent part 'offthe-"tra'ctor ince th'e hose' lines lfi and l'l are in general not o'dl2 carries a'quick-detachable pinata-by which he'hydraulic unit 'IO isconn'ected't'ci the': upper swingingi arm or leveri 83 isipivoted at84,: to the rdinarily disconnected" Theend of I the pistorf 7 mus of aswin'gingt'arm or IeVei' BMtHatis pivrear end of the support bar BI andis connected at a midpoint, as at 85, to a pair of links 86. The arm orlever 83 is connected by said pair of links 89 to a bracket 81 formed onor carried by the upper end 19 of the forward swinging arm or lever 8|.

The arm or lever 8| comprises two strap memrbers i9l ranch-92;the;-11ppe1" ends tot which are ---spaced apart tos-receive the supportbar 6| therebetween. The lower end portions of the strap .zmmembers 9|and 92 diverge downwardly and are "provided with slots 94 open at theirlower ends, and tapered or flared outwardly, as at 95. The

' 'slidermember 5::has each of its side plates M 15 nform'edito receivelthe inner squared head ends of a pair-ofpivot'bolts 96. Each of thesebolts extend laterally outwardly through a bushing 91, and a nut andwasher 98 and 99 are mounted .:.:on: the outer end of each bolt 96. Alsomounted on each bolt 96 is a slide casting apertured to receive the.associ'ated'bolt :and provided with guide -fianges |0L=and ||l3aspacedwapartwtmreceive the lower slotted end of theleassociated strapmember, 9 l or 92, therebetween. z The slide castings |9| arethus-pivoted onthel associated pivot bolt ".96,- and the length- 0f.thenb-ushing :91 .issuch that the lower endrof theassoeiated strapmember, 9|or92, isifreelyslidablefin a generally verticaldirectioninsthe associated member 10 r The rear swinging arm. members. or lever.83

comprises a 7 pair :of. straps I96 and m'lpialso flaringoutwardlyatthewlowernends awhichware .tapertured. The lowerend ofseachon the strapmembers- 66 :and I0 L isformed avith an angled extension |-|l3,-- alsoapertured and: each angled extension I88 forms with thetassociatedastrapmember a bifurcated-sectionp-the.rapertures of which areUinaxial-ealignmentgand-Tin which. a spring \-biasedquick-detachablepinmember -is disposed. As-bestshown in-Figure 2,.each pin Iis--slidab1ya-mounted"in the'associated aperturesand-,-.- in .the spacebetween the. extension |98-and the lower end ofthesassociated strap abiasing spring 2 is disposed. The inner end of each spring H 2- acts:against acotter LI 3 which passes through ansopening :in the inneraendof l theassociated'pin I H The forward -1end. =porations=of-theaangles-|8 -:maki-ng= up thendrawbar rmember 2- are :formedwith iapertures 4atoreceivethe associated quick? detachable pivot.-pins ..;Bypul1i-ng-the-two; pins-||| outwardly against the actioncf the;.associatedsprings H 2. -.the--rear swinging arm-or lever-=83tofthe:power control attachment may readilywbec0nneeted to or disconnectedafromthe forwardeendl of thez-rear drawban-member 2.The-:for-ward-sWingingYarm ore-lever 8 L'may'be connected toon'disccnnected .-from itseassociated pivotsxon the slide 5b3nmerelyraising or lowering-the lower'end of :thef arm or lever 9|. The forwardpivot=fihwhiclrtsupports vthe forwa-rd end 'of -.the.--bar-.6|-, mayreadily be detached-by removing-the hainpin connectonand sliding thepin-62 free-of-the brackets-63.-

The operation of the power control attachment as=described above issubstantially: as follows.

After first shifting each of.'=therlatch plungers --into theirunlatchedposition-andholdingithem in that position by the detachablepinstfiii tthe powercontrol attachment isimounted inposition on the diskharrow drawbar by-iconnectihg'the 'rear'swinging armor lever :83-inposition-with the quich detachable, pins H l";.--.andby sliding the vlowerends :otI-the strap: members =9|1and 92 in13;)0'Sifi01'lilil1ith9iSlide castings-i191 .and.connecting ':.thecforwardi end iof ithe ssuppcrtsebar :6 tizby rzthe pivot pin 62 to thefront end of the drawbar channel member 3. By controlling the amount offluid directed into the ram unit I0, the angling anddeangling of theharrow is readily controlled.

, As shown in Figure 1, the relatively shiftable members 2 and 5 are intheir separated position, which swings the gangs into their maximumangled position. If it should be desired to reduce the angle, all thatit is necessary to do is to operate the hydraulic ram unit I so as tobrin the lower ends of the arms or levers 8| and 83 somewhat closertogether, moving the member 2 and the member 5 relative to the drawbarchannel 3 to which the propelling tractor is connected. This reduces theangle to the desired point. When it is desired to bring the disk harrowinto its straightened position, as for transport, the arms or levers 8|and 83 are operated to swing the lower ends together, it being notedthat one moves rearwardly while the other moves forward- 6 ment in whichthe adjustable stop limits the retracted position ofthe piston rod, andin order to employ such a power operated unit with the disk harrow anglecontrol mechanism described ing the extent of inward movement of thepiston ly, relative to the channel 3, substantially into the positionsshown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

When it is desired to operate the harrow manually, as may be necessaryif the tractor to which it is connected is not equipped with a powercylinder, such as the hydraulic unit ill,

the pins 55 are removed from the plungers 4 1, and the ropes 50reconnected if they were removed, whereupon the implement is ready forconnection to a tractor and to be controlled therefrom manually. It isnot necessary to remove the power control parts, but they may beremoved, if desired, merely by taking out the pin 62 and then releasingthe spring biased pins III from the forward end of the rear drawbarmember 2, whereupon the support bar BI and associated parts may belifted away from the harrow. Figure 4 shows the position of the triplever 4| when it is controlled manually. When the power controlattachment is in place and the plungers 45 locked in inoperativepositions, the trip levers 4| drop down into a position generallyhorizontal alongside the drawbar members, so as to be out of the way ofany of the parts of the power control attachment. It is for the purposeof permitting the trip levers 4| to occupy low down positions that theopenings 41 through which the levers 4| extend with a certain amount oflooseness are formed considerably larger than the cooperating portionsof the lever 4|.

In the arrangement described above the piston and cylinder unit I0 ismoved into an extended position when the harrow is shifted into anangled or operating position, and in order to vary the working angle ofthe disk gangs, the power unit I0 is actuated to extend or retract thepiston I2 a slight amount. When the unit 'II) is operated to bring thegangs into a straightened or transport position, and the harrow thensubsequently brought into an angled position by again extending the unit10, the latter is extended until the desired point is reached at whichthe gangs are angled the required amount. Under some conditions it maybe desirable to employ a hydraulic piston and cylinder unit in which isincorporated an adjustable limit stop so that the power unit will alwaysreturn to a given position. A unit of this kind may therefore beemployed advantageously with a disk harrow controlling linkage describedabove, especially when arranged so that such adjustable limit stop maybe employed to determine the angled position of the disk gangs whenoperating. One of such hydraulic power units with the above mentionedadjustable limit stop that is available incorporates an arrangerelativeto the cylinder. Parts shown in Figure 5 which are identical with thoseshown in Figure 1 are indicated by the same reference numerals. InFigure 5, an arm I2| is pivoted on a pivot bolt I22 to the main bar orsupport 6 I, the pivot bolt I22 being somewhat longer than thecorresponding pivot 82 shown in Figure 1. Also, the upper end I23 of thearm member or lever I2I is straight, instead of being angled as shown inFigure 1. The arm |2| is made up of two strap members I24 and I25 andconnected at their lower ends to the slide 5 in substantially the samemanner described above in connection with the part 8| shown in Figure 1.The upper end of each of the bars I24 and I25 is apertured to receivepivots I 2'! by which a pair of links I 28 and I29 are pivotallyconnected thereto. The links I28 and I29 extend rearwardly anddownwardly and are pivoted at 85 to the rear arm member or lever 83.Disposed on the relatively long pivot bolt I22 is a vertically extendingarm I32, preferably made up of a pair of strap members I33 and I34apertured to receive the pivot I22. The strap members I33 and I34 extenddownwardly below the bar support SI and are apertured to receive a pivotpin I36 by which the forward end of a link I31 is pivotally connectedtherewith.

The forward end of the link I3! is disposed between the straps I33 andI34 making up the swinging arm member or lever I32 and is apertured toreceive the pivot bolt or pin I36. The rear end of the link I31 has aforked section I38 which receives the link or lever 83and is aperturedto receive the pivot pin or bolt 85. The upper ends of the strap membersI33 and I34 are bent so as to lie against one another and are aperturedto receive the quick detachable pin I8 by which the piston rod |4| of afluid power unit I42 may be connected thereto. The unit I42 includes thepiston rod I4I, a piston secured to the inner end thereof and movable ina cylinder I43, a pair of hose-lines I44 and I45, and forms the means bywhich fluid may be delivered to one side of the piston, and withdrawnfrom the other side optionally. The cylinder I43 is also provided withadjustable limit stop mechanism indicated in its entirety by thereference numeral I41 and including a pair of bosses I through which apair of parallel rods I 5| are slidable. At the outer end of thecylinder I43 a transverse stop member I52 is connected rigidly to theend of the rods I5| and is apertured cen- V trally to accommodate thepiston rod I4I. Each of the rods |5I is provided with a number ofopenings which are adapted to register with openings formed in thebosses I50. Quick detachable pins I55 are adapted to be inserted throughthe registering holes to dispose the stop member I52 in differentpositions outwardly of the cylinder I43 so that when the piston rod I5Iis retracted, the head I56 carried at the outer end of the piston rodI4| comes into contact with power operated unit mounted on saidsupporting member and connected with said relatively movable parts forshifting them in opposite directions, relative to said one drawbarmember.

6. In a disk harrow having a generally transversely arranged gangswingable in a normally horizontal plane, a hitch construction includinga part adapted to receive draft from a tractor or other source of power,a pair of members movable relative to said draft-receiving part andconnected with opposite end portions of said gang, and a gangcontrolling unit including a supporting member pivoted adjacent itsforward end to said part and connected supportingly at its other end onone of said members, and means on said supporting member and connectedwith said pair of members for shifting them in opposite directionsrelative to said part.

'7. The invention set forth in claim 6, further characterized by saidshifting means including a power unit in the form of a piston andcylinder device, and an adjustable limit stop on said power unit forlimiting the movement of the piston thereon in one direction.

8. In a disk harrow, a forward drawbar member adapted to receive draft,a pair of relatively movable parts associated with said drawbar member,a rigid supporting member connected at one end with said drawbar member,a pair of arms pivoted to said rigid member and connected, respectively,with said relatively movable parts, means interconnecting said arms sothat when one is swung in one direction the other is swung in the otherdirection, a motion reversing linkage connected with one of said arms,and means carried by said rigid member and connected with said motionreversing linkage for swinging said arms in opposite directions forchanging the angle of the disk gang of the harrow.

9. In a disk harrow having a pair of relatively slidable, front and reardrawbar members, the rear member being connected with the inner end ofthe disk gang, and a slide movably mounted on the front drawbar memberand connected with the outer end of the associated disk gang: a powerangling attachment comprising a rigid supporting member adapted to bedisposed generally longitudinally of said drawbar members, means forpivotally connecting the forward end of said supporting member to theforward end of said front drawbar member, a pair of generally verticallydisposed arms pivotally connected with said rigid member in fore and aftspaced relation, means interconnecting said arms whereby when one ismoved in one direction the other is moved in the opposite direction,means pivotally connecting the lower end of the rear arm to said reardrawbar member, means providing a pivotal connection between the lowerend of the other arm and said front drawbar member, and a power unitmounted on said rigid member and connected to swing said arms inopposite directions for changing the angle of said disk gang by shiftingsaid slide and rear drawbar member in generally opposite directions.

10. In a disk harrow. a forward drawbar memher adapted to receive draft.a pair of relatively movable parts associated with said drawbar member,a rigid supporting member connected at one end with said drawbar member,a pair of arms pivoted to said rigid member and connected, respectively,with said relatively movable parts, means interconnecting said arms sothat when one is swung in one direction the other is swung in the otherdirection, and means carried by said rigid member and connected with oneof said pivoted arms for swinging said arms in opposite directions forchanging the angle of the disk ang of the harrow.

11. In a disk harrow having a draft-receiving drawbar member, a pair ofparts slidable relative thereto, a rigid member pivotally connected atits forward end with said drawbar member, an arm pivotally connectedwith the rear end of said rigid member and at its lower end pivotallyconnected with one of said slidable parts, a second arm pivotallyconnected with said rigid member forwardly of said first mentioned arm,motionreversing means interconnecting said arms, means pivotallyconnecting said second arm with the other of said pair of slidableparts, a power unit including a piston and cylinder device, meansconnecting the forward end of said device with the forward portion ofsaid rigid member, and means connecting the rear portion of said devicewith one of said arms.

12. In a disk harrow having a draft-receiving drawbar member and a pairof parts slidable relative to said drawbar member, the improvementcomprising a rigid member adapted to be pivotally connected at itsforward end with said drawbar member, an arm pivotally connected withthe rear end of said rigid member and adapted to be pivotally connectedat its lower end with one of said slidable parts, a second arm pivotallyconnected with said rigid member forwardly of said first mentioned arm,means for pivotally connecting said second arm with the other of saidpair of slidable parts, motion-reversing means interconnecting saidarms, a power unit including a piston and cylinder device, meansconnecting the forward end of said device with the forward portion ofsaid rigid member, and means connecting the rear portion of said devicewith one of said arms.

CHARLES H. YOUNGBERG;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

